New 2008 Honda Odyssey DX for the Canadian market

New for 2008 is a Canada-exclusive Honda Odyssey DX trim that provides minivan buyers with high value, a fuel-efficient V6 engine, and a full complement of safety features. With a Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $31,490, the all-new 2008 Odyssey is designed to appeal to Canadian families looking for optimum value at a more affordable price.

The significantly updated 2008 Honda Odyssey minivan receives new exterior styling, a more fuel-efficient version of the available Variable Cylinder ManagementT (VCM®) i-VTEC V-6 engine, a host of new premium and safety features. Exterior styling focuses on a bolder, six-sided grille design and a front bumper fascia with crisp lines that add to the vehicle’s dynamic and premium appearance.

“The award-winning Odyssey is regarded as the benchmark in Canada’s minivan category when it comes to moving the maximum number of people in both comfort and safety,” said Jim Miller, executive vice president of Honda Canada Inc. “For 2008, the new DX trim is designed to provide added value for Canadian families without sacrificing safety, fuel efficiency or content.”

New available premium features include Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® (standard on Touring); 4-way power passenger seat (standard on EX-L and Touring); rearview camera display integrated into the rearview mirror (standard on EX-L models); XM® Satellite Radio (standard on EX-L and Touring); 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels (standard on Touring); and memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down (standard on Touring).

Interior styling receives updates in the form of new colours and textures for the instrument panel, along with premium fabric for Odyssey LX and EX seating surfaces. Further interior refinements include an additional storage bin in the available 2nd Row PlusOne SeatT (standard on all trims, except DX), standard MP3/Windows® Media Audio (WMA) compatibility (CD-based), and a standard auxiliary input jack.

The Honda Odyssey achieves the highest 5-star crash safety rating by the U.S. federal government for both frontal and side impacts. Active head restraints, designed to reduce neck injuries in rear collisions, have been added as standard equipment on all Odyssey trims. Odyssey recently earned the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK award for 2008, the highest rating possible from the nonprofit research organization.

Known for its industry trend-setting One-Motion 60/40 Split 3rd Row Magic Seat®, the Odyssey’s innovative eight-passenger seating areas (seven-passenger on DX) quickly and easily adapt between passenger and cargo duties. The 2nd Row PlusOneSeatT has been added as standard equipment to the Odyssey Touring, replacing the standard removable center console, while retaining similar functionality and adding a seating position to the previously seven-passenger Touring model.

Available premium features include Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation SystemT with bilingual voice recognition, an 8-inch screen and Zagat Survey® restaurant guide information, plus a Honda DVD Entertainment System with a 9-inch screen.

Determined by specific model, two engine variations exist. The 3.5-litre, all-aluminum,
SOHC VTEC® V-6 engine on the Odyssey DX, LX and EX produces 244 horsepower, and achieves a city/highway fuel economy rating of 13.3 / 8.5 L/100 km.

The Odyssey EX-L and Touring models feature a 3.5-litre, all-aluminum, SOHC i-VTEC® 241-horsepower V-6 engine with VCM® for enhanced fuel efficiency with a city/highway fuel economy rating of 12.4 / 7.8 L/100 km.

The new-generation VCM® provides the capability to selectively deactivate either two or three of the engine’s six cylinders during cruising and deceleration (instead of three, exclusively). The Odyssey’s new VCM® engine expands the cylinder deactivation operating range, which helps to increase fuel efficiency in a wider variety of driving conditions and speeds.

Manufacturers Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for 2008 Honda Odyssey trims are:

$31,490 – Odyssey DX
$33,590 – Odyssey LX
$36,990 – Odyssey EX
$40,590 – Odyssey EX-L
$42,790 – Odyssey EX-L RES
$48,890 – Odyssey Touring